the outlet-第33节

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is　horse's　neck　and　himself；　one　of　which　pinioned　his　arms。　The　boys　were　expecting　something　of　this　nature；　and　fully　half　the　men　in　Lovell's　employ　galloped　up　and　formed　a　circle　around　the　captive；　now　livid　with　rage。　Archie　was　cursing　by　both　note　and　rhyme；　and　had　managed　to　unearth　a　knife　and　was　trying　to　cut　the　lassos　which　fettered　himself　and　horse；　when　Dorg　Seay　rode　in　and　rapped　him　over　the　knuckles　with　a　six…shooter；　saying；　〃Don't　do　that；　sweetheart；　those　ropes　cost　thirty…five　cents　apiece。〃

Fortunately　the　knife　was　knocked　from　Tolleston's　hand　and　his　six…shooter　secured；　rendering　him　powerless　to　inflict　injury　to　any　one。　The　cattle　count　had　ended；　and　escorted　by　a　cordon　of　mounted　men；　both　horse　and　captive　were　led　over　to　where　a　contingent　had　gathered　around　to　hear　the　result　of　the　count。　I　was　merely　a　delighted　spectator；　and　as　the　other　men　turned　from　the　cattle　and　met　us；　Lovell　languidly　threw　one　leg　over　his　horse's　neck；　and；　suppressing　a　smile；　greeted　his　old　foreman。

〃Hello；　Archie；〃　said　he；　〃it's　been　some　little　time　since　last　we　met。　I've　been　hearing　some　bad　reports　about　you；　and　was　anxious　to　meet　up　and　talk　matters　over。　Boys；　take　those　ropes　off　his　horse　and　give　him　back　his　irons；　I　raised　this　man　and　made　him　the　cow…hand　he　is；　and　there's　nothing　so　serious　between　us　that　we　should　remain　strangers。　Now；　Archie；　I　want　you　to　know　that　you　are　in　the　employ　of　my　enemies；　who　are　as　big　a　set　of　scoundrels　as　ever　missed　a　halter。　You　and　Flood；　here；　were　the　only　two　men　in　my　employ　who　knew　all　the　facts　in　regard　to　the　Buford　contract。　And　just　because　I　wouldn't　favor　you　over　a　blind　horse；　you　must　hunt　up　the　very　men　who　are　trying　to　undermine　me　on　this　drive。　No　wonder　they　gave　you　employment；　for　you're　a　valuable　man　to　them；　but　it's　at　a　serious　loss；　　the　loss　of　your　honor。　You　can't　go　home　to　Texas　and　again　be　respected　among　men。　This　outfit　you　are　with　will　promise　you　the　earth；　but　the　moment　that　they're　through　with　you；　you　won't　cut　any　more　figure　than　a　last　year's　bird's　nest。　They'll　throw　you　aside　like　an　old　boot；　and　you'll　fall　so　hard　that　you'll　hear　the　clock　tick　in　China。　Now；　Archie；　it　hurts　me　to　see　a　young　fellow　like　you　go　wrong；　and　I'm　willing　to　forgive　the　past　and　stretch　out　a　hand　to　save　you。　If　you'll　quit　those　people；　you　can　have　Flood's　cattle　from　here　to　the　Rosebud　Agency；　or　I'll　buy　you　a　ticket　home　and　you　can　help　with　the　fall　work　at　the　ranch。　You　may　have　a　day　or　two　to　think　this　matter　over；　and　whatever　you　decide　on　will　be　final。　You　have　shown　little　gratitude　for　the　opportunities　that　I've　given　you；　but　we'll　break　the　old　slate　and　start　all　over　with　a　new　one。　Now；　that's　all　I　wanted　to　say　to　you；　except　to　do　your　own　thinking。　If　you're　going　back　to　town；　I'll　ride　a　short　distance　with　you。〃

The　two　rode　away　together；　but　halted　within　sight　for　a　short　conference；　after　which　Lovell　returned。　The　cattle　were　being　drifted　east　by　the　deputies　and　several　of　our　boys；　the　trail　boss　having　called　off　his　men　on　an　agreement　of　the　count。　The　herd　had　tallied　out　thirty…six　hundred　and　ten　head；　but　in　making　out　the　receipt；　the　fact　was　developed　that　there　were　some　six　hundred　beeves　not　in　the　regular　road　brand。　These　had　been　purchased　extra　from　another　source；　and　had　been　paid　for　in　full　by　the　buyers；　the　seller　of　the　main　herd　agreeing　to　deliver　them　along　with　his　own。　This　was　fortunate；　as　it　increased　the　equity　of　the　buyers　in　the　cattle；　and　more　than　established　a　sufficient　interest　to　satisfy　the　judgment　and　all　expenses。

Darkness　was　approaching；　which　hastened　our　actions。　Two　men　from　each　outflt　present　were　detailed　to　hold　the　cattle　that　night；　and　were　sent　on　ahead　to　Priest's　camp　to　secure　their　suppers　and　a　change　of　mounts。　The　deposed　trail　boss　accepted　an　invitation　to　accompany　us　and　spend　the　night　at　one　of　our　wagons；　and　we　rode　away　to　overtake　the　drifting　herd。　The　different　outfits　one　by　one　dropped　out　and　rode　for　their　camps；　but　as　mine　lay　east　and　across　the　river；　the　course　of　the　herd　was　carrying　me　home。　After　passing　The　Rebel's　wagon　fully　a　half　mile；　we　rounded　in　the　herd；　which　soon　lay　down　to　rest　on　the　bedground。　In　the　gathering　twilight；　the　camp…fires　of　nearly　a　dozen　trail　wagons　were　gleaming　up　and　down　the　river；　and　while　we　speculated　with　Sponsilier's　boys　which　one　was　ours；　the　guard　arrived　and　took　the　bedded　herd。　The　two　old　cowmen　and　the　trail　boss　had　dropped　out　opposite　my　brother's　camp；　leaving　something　like　ten　men　with　the　attached　beeves；　but　on　being　relieved　by　the　first　watch；　Flood　invited　Sheriff　Phillips　and　his　deputies　across　the　river　to　spend　the　night　with　him。

〃Like　to；　mighty　well；　but　can't　do　it；〃　replied　Phillips。　〃The　sheriff's　office　is　supposed　to　be　in　town；　and　not　over　on　the　North　Fork；　but　I'll　leave　two　of　these　deputies　with　you。　Some　of　you　had　better　ride　in　to…morrow；　for　there　may　be　overtures　made　looking　towards　a　settlement；　and　treat　those　beeves　well；　so　that　there　can　be　no　charge　of　damage　to　the　cattle。　Good…night；　everybody。〃



CHAPTER　XV。　TOLLESTON　BUTTS　IN

Morning　dawned　on　a　scene　of　pastoral　grandeur。　The　valley　of　the　North　Platte　was　dotted　with　cattle　from　hill　and　plain。　The　river；　well　confined　within　its　low　banks；　divided　an　unsurveyed　domain　of　green…swarded　meadows　like　a　boundary　line　between　vast　pastures。　The　exodus　of　cattle　from　Texas　to　the　new　Northwest　was　nearing　flood…tide；　and　from　every　swell　and　knoll　the　solitary　figure　of　the　herdsman　greeted　the　rising　sun。

Sponsilier　and　I　had　agreed　to　rejoin　our　own　outfits　at　the　first　opportunity。　We　might　have　exchanged　places　the　evening　before；　but　I　had　a　horse　and　some　ammunition　at　Dave's　camp　and　was　just　contentious　enough　not　to　give　up　a　single　animal　from　my　own　mount。　On　the　other　hand；　Mr。　Dave　Sponsilier　would　have　traded　whole　remudas　with　me；　but　my　love　for　a　good　horse　was　strong；　and　Fort　Buford　was　many　a　weary　mile　distant。　Hence　there　was　no　surprise　shown　as　Sponsilier　rode　up　to　his　own　wagon　that　morning　in　time　for　breakfast。　We　were　good　friends　when　personal　advantages　did　not　conflict；　and　where　our　employer's　interests　were　at　stake　we　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder　like　comrades。　Yet　Dave　gave　me　a　big　jolly　about　being　daffy　over　my　horses；　well　knowing　that　there　is　an　indescribable　nearness　between　one　of　our　craft　and　his　own　mount。　But　warding　off　his　raillery；　just　the　same　and　in　due　time；　I　cantered　away　on　my　own　horse。

As　I　rode　up　the　North　Fork　towards　my　outfit；　the　attached　herd　was　in　plain　view　across　the　river。　Arriving　at　my　own　wagon；　I　saw　a　mute　appeal　in　every　face　for　permission　to　go　to　town；　and　consent　was　readily　granted　to　all　who　had　not　been　excused　on　a　similar　errand　the　day　before。　The　cook　and　horse…wrangler　were　included；　and　the　activities　of　the　outfit　in　saddling　and　getting　away　were　suggestive　of　a　prairie　fire　or　a　stampede。　I　accompanied　them　across　the　river；　and　then　turned　upstream　to　my　brother's　camp；　promising　to　join　them　later　and　make　a　full　day　of　it。　At　Bob's　wagon　they　had　stretched　a　fly；　and　in　its　shade　lounged　half　a　dozen　men；　while　an　air　of　languid　indolence　pervaded　the　camp。　Without　dismounting；　I　announced　myself　as　on　the　way　to　town；　and　invited　any　one　who　wished　to　accompany　me。　Lovell　and　Reed　both　declined；　half　of　Bob's　men　had　been　excused　and　started　an　hour　before；　but　my　brother　assured　me　that　if　I　would　wait　until　the　deposed　foreman　returned；　the　latter's　company　could　be　counted　on。　I　waited；　and　in　the　course　of　half　an　hour　the　trail　boss　came　back　from　his　cattle。　During　the　interim；　the　two　old　cowmen　reviewed　Grant's　siege　of　Vicksburg；　both　having　been　participants；　but　on　opposite　sides。　While　the　guest　was　shifting　his　saddle　to　a　loaned　horse；　I　inquired　if　there　was　anything　that　I　could　attend　to　for　any　one　at　Ogalalla。　Lovell　could　think　of　nothing；　but　as　we　mounted　to　start；　Reed　aroused　himself；　and　coming　over；　rested　the　stub　of　his　armless　sleeve　on　my　horse's　neck；　saying：

〃You　boys　might　drop　into　the　sheriff's　office　as　you　go　in　and　also　again　as　you　are　starting　back。　Report　the　cattle　as　having　spent　a　quiet　night　and　ask　Phillips　if　he　has　any　word　for　me。〃

Turning　to　the　trail　boss　he　continued：　〃Young　man；　I　would　suggest　that　you　hunt　up　your　employer　and　have　him　stir　things　up。　The　cattle　will　be　well　taken　care　of；　but　we're　just　as　anxious　to　turn　them　back　to　you　as　you　are　to　receive　them。　Tell　the　seller　that　it　would　be　well　worth　his　while　to　see　Lovell　and　myself　before　going　any　farther。　We　can　put　him　in　possession　of　a　few　facts　that　may　save　him　time　and　trouble。　I　reckon　that's　about　all。　Oh；　yes；　I'll　be　at　this　wagon　all　evening。

My　brother　rode　a　short　distance　with　us　and　introduced　the　stranger　as　Hugh　Morris。　He　proved　a　sociable　fellow；　had　made　three　trips　up　the　trail　as　foreman；　his　first　two　herds　having　gone　to　the　Cherokee　Strip　under　contract。　By　the　time　we　reached　Ogalalla；　as　strong　a　fraternal　level　existed　between　us　as　though　we　had　known　each　other